University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) vs Salem State

Nestled in the heart of Nebraska, the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) and Salem State University (SSU) in Massachusetts stand as two distinct academic institutions, each offering unique opportunities for higher education. UNK boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a more diverse student body, while SSU maintains a smaller student population, fostering a close-knit community. Both universities excel in different areas of study, with UNK excelling in business, education, and nursing, and SSU shining in social sciences, psychology, and communications. While UNK students enjoy a lower cost of attendance, SSU offers a higher graduation rate. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details and discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Salem State University logo

Salem State University

University of Nebraska at Kearney logo

University of Nebraska at Kearney

Overview

Location Salem, Massachusetts Kearney, Nebraska
Campus setting Suburb: Large Town: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 75.0% 76.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 90.0% 90.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $45

Graduate: $45
SAT range N/A 938 - 1133
ACT range N/A 18 - 25
Students submitting SAT score 4.0%
Students submitting ACT score 86.0%
Total number of applicants 6,287 6,076
Total number of admissions given out 5,659 5,488
Admitted students who chose to enroll 939 958
Yield rate 16.6% 17.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $27,123

Out of state: $33,928
In state: $24,300

Out of state: $30,552
Average net price $18,125 $16,433
Tuition
In state: $910

Out of state: $7,050
In state: $6,292

Out of state: $12,498
Room & board $14,590
Room/dormitory: $5,436

Meal plan: $5,192
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

91.0%
Average amount $7,673
85.0%
Average amount $7,441
Students receiving federal student loan 67.0%
Average amount $4,984
45.0%
Average amount $4,821
Students taking out private loans 10.0%
Average amount $12,948
5.0%
Average amount $9,368

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 5,555
Men 34.5% Women 65.5%
4,427
Men 37.7% Women 62.3%
Graduate students 1,576
Men 21.8% Women 78.2%
1,848
Men 30.2% Women 69.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A 9.9%
International students 2.5% 4.2%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 1,928 2,072
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York New Hampshire Connecticut Rhode Island Vermont Nebraska Colorado Kansas Iowa Wyoming

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Education
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Liberal Arts
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 56.8% 58.0%
Dropout rate 40.8% 11.4%
Transferred out N/A 28.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,461
  • Year 2: $67,660
  • Year 3: $81,500
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,690
  • Year 2: $69,261
  • Year 3: $74,129
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,511
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $69,206
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,183
  • Year 2: $71,854
  • Year 3: $64,195
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,356
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $61,164
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,191
  • Year 2: $54,855
  • Year 3: $59,882
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,049
  • Year 2: $50,606
  • Year 3: $53,563
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,859
  • Year 2: $48,302
  • Year 3: $52,492
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,960
  • Year 2: $47,729
  • Year 3: $51,920
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,346
  • Year 2: $45,696
  • Year 3: $51,685
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,208
  • Year 2: $58,479
  • Year 3: $63,133
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $48,641
  • Year 3: $54,125
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,040
  • Year 2: $52,607
  • Year 3: $53,723
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,490
  • Year 2: $48,302
  • Year 3: $53,277
Biology, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,246
  • Year 2: $48,432
  • Year 3: $52,603
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,894
  • Year 2: $45,618
  • Year 3: $52,491
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,665
  • Year 2: $48,432
  • Year 3: $51,898
Agricultural Business and Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,654
  • Year 2: $38,829
  • Year 3: $51,703
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,159
  • Year 2: $49,464
  • Year 3: $51,277
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,157
  • Year 2: $45,500
  • Year 3: $49,659

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